Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-22
BOILER EXPLOSION.
One Nan Killed and Several others
woundcd-rhe Boat Wrecked
Military Notes Crops
rsrecs.l ,elcrram % one plspa,ch.l

rieusly injured. Several otnerS were
slightly hurt. The Delta il small
vessel, used for freight aud passenger
business on Black river, and was In
command of ]. ID. Kerr. The expio-
son blew the boiler the entire length
OF the vessel, sweeping the woodwork
rs IL went. Captain Kerr was badly
bruised. and one of his legs was
broken. Fireman Floyd was instantly
killed. Frank Anderson was seriously
hurt, as was also another man who
WIS sn employee of the boat. The
steamer is a wreck. A good deal OF the
cargo was ruined or knocked overheard
by the violence of the explosion.
LUCKY FISHERMEN.
The catch of shad is exceptionally
barge In the Albemarle waters this sea
son. and il has never been equalled IN
point of numbers and size OF the fish.
Ia is claimed that this great catch OF
1887. a Godsend, is a result of Fish
Commissioner Worth's work at Avoca
in 1888.
no SESSION OF THE LEGISLATURE.
One Of the most prominent gentle
men in the State said yesterday that all
the newspaper talk and suggestion
about an extra session Of the Leglsla-
ture was idle. He was in position to
saw that there would be no extra ses-
sion.
THE WILSON corroN-MILLs.
Mention was recently made of the
TACT that cotton-mills are shortly to be
erected at Raleigh. In this connection
il is interesting to know that the mills
at Wilson are so pressed with orders
that an extension is necessary so they
are TO be enlarged at once. One OF the
best openings in the State for cotton
factory is atNewberne. The old factory,
with lis old machinery, was sold q few
DAYS ago. Any man with means and
experience can drop into a good thing
there.
THE STATE GUARD.
Nine companies of the State Guard
are officially entered for the national
drill. There are now twenty-five COM
panies in the force, of which one is
colored Cat Raleigh). Three other
companies will be organized in the
next few weeks to make the twenty
FIVE the law allows. The efficiency of
the force is to be made a special point
this year. Inspections are to he very
rigid. Each company must parade
monthly and show at each parade 70
per cent. of the minimum number oil
men allowed by law. and at the inspec-
tion at least 70 per cent. OF the men on
the muster-roll must parade. The
Governors Guard will be inspected
here May 10th. That is memorial-day.
The Bingham Cadets -four companies)
are expected here that day to have
their annual priZe-drill and afterwards
take part in the procession. The Dur
ham Light Infantry are also expected
10 participate in the exercises OF the
day.
GOOD CROP YEAR.
Senator Pom, of Johnston county,
an observant gentleman, gave some
pleasant and interesting news yesterday
concerning the crops. He says that
even with moderate seasons a fine crop
of cotton may be expected, certainly
in his section of the State. The farm
ers have done and are doing hard work
and more of it than ever before. The
increased attention given ploughn9
and the general care of land and the
exceedingly great falling off in the use
of artificial fertilizers are important
features of this seasons work. Cou-
pled with this is a notable movement in
the direction Of economy, unlike any
thing seen since the war.
CURRENT NEWS.
Two men doth colored) are i'll Char
lotte Jail for alleged completely IN the
recent robberies of freight trains on
the Richmond and Danyille road. 1t
does not appear that any robbelles OF
this character have occurred on any
other lines in this State.
Watauga county people voted day
before yesterday on the question OF a
500, 600 subscription to the South At
lantic and Northwestern railway. a
majority of the registered vote was not
cast in favor of the measure. The
Question of what constitutes a majority
in such elections is a vexed one, which
the Supreme Court will have to decide
in another case of practically the same
character.
In sixty days work is expected to
begin ON $25, 600 courthouse for Dur
ham county.
Mr.. Preston Bridgers, United States
Consul at Montevideo, Uruguay, is
here with his family.
The report of the escape OF seven
.convicts from the stockade near Came
ron is confirmed. They were of gang
of $50 at work on the Carthage rail-
road, and escaped by cutting their way
with an improvised saw through the
wooden floor of the stOckade.
The Board of Agriculture held long
session this evening. 1t decided to
conduct the experiment farm on the
present basis; also to prosecute the
oyster survey to completion. The re-
nainder of the session was devoted to
the consideration of the reduction OF
expenses and general pruning. 1t was
ascertained that the $4,000 approprla-
ted by the Hatch bill in Congress to
those States establishing experiment
farms cannot be realized now or until
Congress passes specific act OF appro-
priation This is the ruling OF the
officials at Washington, and is great
disappointment to the board.
Reports show that only 81 fertilizer
licenses have been issued thuS far
against IS last year.
OYSTER COMMISSIONERS.
This morning the State Board OF
Agriculture met and elected the oyster
commissioners provided for by the act
of the late Legislature. w. II. Griffin.
of Pasquotank w. 4. Caho, of Pam
hco, and j. Il. Watson, of Hyde, were
chosen. The hoard appropriated $500
10 the colored State Industrial Associa-
ton. to be expended under the direction
Of the president and secretary.
The Board of Directors Of the peni.
Tertiary was again session to-day. All
Of the present officers of the prison
were reelected.
The capture Of very large whale at
Morehead is reported to-day.
The French man-of-wsr Duconedic
2. O.. Il